The New Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

As a professional underwater photographer, I am very familiar with the Canon EOS 5D series – my first camera was a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, from which I transitioned to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. But recently, I upgraded to the brand-new Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. The beauty of this series is that, through all of its iterations, it has maintained its design integrity, which means that every new model is immediately familiar. Although the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV may look very similar to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, it is a radically more powerful machine.

As a videographer, one of the most exciting developments with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is the ability to not only record video in 4k, but also to record in 4k at either 24p or 30p or Full HD at 50p! Shooting while freediving means that I am often recording on fast ascents, going from deeper, dark water up to brighter conditions. This can make it challenging to capture consistent footage, but I was amazed at the dynamic range performance of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – I had absolutely no problems with highlights, and my footage was exceptional. This, combined with the stunning AF speed and higher image quality, now gives me far more creative freedom than any other camera in the market.

Before I shot this image in Bali, I first went freediving without the camera and I remember thinking it would be almost impossible to capture all the intricate colours and textures of this magnificent underwater sculpture. When I went back underwater with the camera, I came back from the shoot realising that the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV had not delivered my original vision, but had gone even further, and returned noise-free images that revealed a whole new world of details and precise colours that I hadn’t even noticed.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV has received substantial upgrades, including a higher-resolution 30.4MP CMOS sensor, and this, combined with the DIGIC 6+ processor, results in an outstanding dynamic range and incredible performance in image quality in low light conditions. The autofocus (AF) system is faster than any other camera I have ever used, and uses 61 AF points. Bringing all this power underwater pays off quickly.

This article originally featured in Asian Diver’s “Discoveries” Issue 2/2017: Click HERE to visit the shop or click HERE to purchase the online magazine.

Alice Grainger (Editor of Asian Diver): It has been famously stated that we know more about the surface of the Moon than our oceans, and yet it is becoming ever more vital that we deepen our understanding of the importance of life in our seas: We are locked in a race against ourselves to learn about the environment that covers 70percent of the planet, before we destroy it. Thankfully, there are plenty of people out there doing just that.

From adventurous technical dives that uncover vast, unexpected ecosystems, to scientific dives from which divers return with knowledge of new species, to hard-core explorations of freshwater systems, these pages are full of inspiring tales of discovery.

But you don’t need to head to 70 metres, or have a PhD, to discover exciting new elements of the underwater world. One of the most wonderful things about diving is that you can find something that is new to you every time you descend, if you know what you’re looking at.

The oceans are vast, diverse, and fascinating, and a little education can go a long way to enriching the experience. Even a dive site that you think you know well will offer up startling secrets if you look in the right places…